Weight loss has always been in the public eye. This is perhaps even more relevant in recent years as the obesity epidemic is said to be rapidly increasing. Despite this, there are many who do care about their weight and try a wide variety of diets and eating plans in order to control or lose weight. Anyone who takes a stroll through their local town will spot many people who are technically overweight. However, new research is questioning if the skinniest people are actually the healthiest. Here are some facts that will make you questions everything you thought you knew about dieting and weight loss.

Genetics

Many years ago researchers discovered that chubby mice had a gene which their skinnier friends did not have. This research has now been applied to the human body and it has been shown that those who have this gene, known as FTO, are more likely to be obese. Some people have two copies of this gene and the chances of these people suffering from type 2 diabetes are increased by 40%. If you have two of these genes you are 60% more likely to be obese than those who do not have the gene. Scientists now also believe that there are other fat genes in the human body although their affect may not be as great as FTO. Although you cannot control your genes, exercise can reduce the risk.

Fat cells

Everybody has fat cells in their body. Those who have high volumes of fat cells are more likely to become obese as these fat cells hold onto the fat inside them and make you crave more. Large fat cells are linked with an increase possibility of obesity related problems whilst the smaller fat cells have much less impact. It is not possible to control the number of fat cells but it is possible to help them stay small.

Metabolism

It has been discovered that the heavy you become the harder it is for your fat cells to burn fat. As you gain weight your metabolism slows down and this can result in a vicious cycle. The best answer to this is to engage in physical exercise. This will increase your metabolic rate and improve fat burning which keeps the fat cells small.

Stress & weight loss

Stressful situations spark the release of cortisol in your body; the amount of this stress hormone can be reduced by consuming carbohydrates. This means that snack foods are the first thing that is reached for when you are stressed. This contributes to weight gain and the stress hormone also triggers the fat storing cycle in your body. Stress adds weight in two ways and the best way to reduce this is a personal choice. Anything that works for you to unwind is good.

Food during pregnancy

It has been known for a long time that drinking and smoking during pregnancy will affect the unborn baby. There is now research that suggests the food consumed during pregnancy will also affect the unborn child. It has been shown in mice that overweight females have excessive glucose and fatty acids in their wombs and this affects the normal metabolic development of their unborn offspring.

Sleep is essential for weight loss

Sleep has always been essential to the human body, relieving aches, pains and allowing the body to recuperate. The latest research suggests that if you get less than seven or eight hours sleep a night you will experience an increase in the hunger hormone ghrelin and a decrease in the feeling full hormone leptin. Too little sleep makes you feel hungry even when you are not. Sleep may be the best treatment for losing weight!

There are many cases where one half of a partnership has lost weight and has subsequently discovered a new self-confidence and attractiveness to the opposite sex. This can make the non dieting partner jealous which may well lead to them undertaking a weight loss program. Further research has shown that where one half of a couple is obese the other is likely to follow and the same happens in reverse. Is your partner indulging in too many sweets? Because if that’s the case you might want to check your body too; you may be eating too much too.

By Jefferey Morgan and Supplemented.co.uk!